Gallium nitrate is only found in individuals that have used or taken this drug. It is a drug that is used to treat hyper-calcemia, or too much calcium in the blood. This condition may occur when individuals develop various types of cancer. Gallium nitrate is also known by the common brand name Ganite.Gallium nitrate is believed to exert a hypocalcemic effect by inhibiting calcium resorption from bone. Gallium nitrate localizes preferentially where bone resorption and remodeling is occurring, and inhibits osteoclast activity. Inhibition of resorption may occur via a reduction in increased bone turnover. It seems to enhance hydroxyapatite function, inhibit osteocalcin, and inhibit the vacuolar ATPase on the osteoclast ruffled membrane. All these aid in the reduction of bone resorption.

This compound belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as post-transition metal nitrates. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest oxoanion is nitrate, and in which the heaviest atom not in an oxoanion is a post-transition metal.

Produced by activated macrophages, IL-1 stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing IL-2 release, B-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL-1 proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells